Notes

In the client/server model, all information that the client (user) is entitled to use is available at the
desktop. There is no need to change into terminal mode or log into another processor to access
information. All authorized information and processes are directly available from the desktop interface.
The desktop tools—e-mail, spreadsheet, presentation graphics, and word processing—are available and
can be used to deal with information provided by application and database servers resident on the
network. Desktop users can use their desktop tools in conjunction with information made available
from the corporate systems to produce new and useful information.
Figure 2.1 shows a typical example of this integration. A word-processed document that includes input
from a drawing package, a spreadsheet, and a custom-developed application can be created. The
facilities of Microsoft's Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) enable graphics and spreadsheet data to be cut
and pasted into the word-processed document along with the window of information extracted from a
corporate database. The result is displayed by the custom application.
Creation of the customized document is done using only desktop tools and the mouse to select and drag
information from either source into the document. The electronic scissors and glue provide powerful
extensions to existing applications and take advantage of the capability of the existing desktop
processor. The entire new development can be done by individuals who are familiar only with personal
productivity desktop tools. Manipulating the spreadsheet object, the graphics object, the application
screen object, and the document object using the desktop cut and paste tools provides a powerful new
tool to the end user.
Developers use these same object manipulation capabilities under program control to create new
applications in a fraction of the time consumed by traditional programming methods. Object-oriented
development techniques are dramatically increasing the power available to nonprogrammers and user
professionals to build and enhance applications.